"We see strong growth in the Americas in the next three years as the global economy bounces back. Latin America is fast becoming a major sourcing destination for savvy brands and retailers based in the U.S. and Canada," said Patrick Lamson-Hall, managing editor of Sourcing Journal Online.

From 2009 to 2011, total volume of apparel, footwear and household goods sourced to the United States from Latin America grew by 17 percent, while volume from China has stagnated and begun to fall in some categories.

"Brands and retailers are taking a holistic approach to sourcing and leveraging different regions to counter rising pressures from consumers, costs and trade regulations," said Ted Barba, vice president of business development for TradeCard in the Americas. "The quality of goods in the Americas, and the infrastructure to deliver these goods, has drastically improved in recent years.

However, each country poses a series of opportunities and risks. It's important to do your homework and have a clear understanding of how Latin America fits into your business strategy before making a major investment."

The white paper, Sourcing in Latin America: Strategies, Obstacles, and Opportunities, can be downloaded, click here.

Source: TradeCard